Meet the Masters: Marg Noonan Looking Forward to 2019

Marg Nonnan celebrates gold at the 2019 Masters Road National Championships

In 2018, Marg Noonan had a fantastic week at Masters Road Nationals in Victoria where she took home the gold in the criterium and the individual time trial of the Women’s Masters 7. 

These dual golds earnt her the Champion of Champions jersey, with her brilliant success made even more impressive by being the eldest athlete in her age group!

With such an impressive haul from the 2018 Masters Road Nationals we’re excited to see what she can do in Adelaide this October. 

Marg took some time out of her day to chat to us about her success in 2018, what she loves about masters cycling and her goals for the upcoming 2019 Masters Road Nationals!

My 2018 Champion of Champions Week 
I was very excited when I heard that the championships were going to be held at Metung in Gippsland Victoria as it is such a beautiful part of my home state. 

Prior to racing I had the usual nerves and gitters, particularly knowing that I was going up against the previous champion, Vikings Cycling Club’s Lyn Vasudeva who was in my age group. 

The Time Trial 
In 2018 the ITT was the first event and the one I wanted to win more than anything, it was an out and back undulating course, which was always going to be a challenge but it was a great result.

It has definitely become my favourite event over the last 10 years. It has taught me how to strategise, be disciplined and control my pace through-out the race. I really love the fact it is just between me and the clock. 

The Road Race 
Despite the road race not being my best event because of the hilly course it was still a beautiful and scenic ride in any case. 
I was also really happy to see a good number of riders in the Women’s Masters 7 enter all three events, I always make it a personal point to enter all three to support women’s cycling.

The Crit 
The criterium is always short and sharp and I love sprinting, so I was hoping to do well as it has been my strongest discipline by far over the years.  
It was truly an amazing week for me, to come away with the Champion of Champions Jersey and win 2 gold medals was great, especially being the eldest in my age group.

The great thing about Masters and juggling life with racing
Masters racing gives me the opportunity to race in club events alongside male and female competitors, this creates great diversity and it is very social which I love a lot!
At the Masters events I get to race in my age group and gender and that gives me the capacity to assess my performances against the other masters athletes.

And I love being coached, I listen, plan and execute accordingly and that works for me.It’s great fun too especially with my life being so busy always juggling my family, husband and children. It’s great to still be able to have the time to compete like this. 

Goals for 2019 Road Nationals 
I am now training for 2019 and can’t wait for the Australian Masters Nationals to be held in Adelaide in October. 

My goals at this stage are to enter all three events and defend my two titles, and I want to place in the road race this year. 

It is certainly going to be a different experience from last year, this time I’m going to be the youngest in my age group. 

Enter the 2019 Masters Road National Champions today!